Getting used to 269 and using it

July 18, 2002

KALAMAZOO -- Southwest Michigan's new area code 269 went live
on July 13.

The affected area includes most or all of eight counties in
the southwest corner of the state, including all of Berrien,
Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties and most of
Allegan, Barry and Calhoun. WMU's Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and
Benton Harbor campuses are included in the region that has a
new code.

Either the old 616 area code or the new 269 can be used for
all pre-existing land-line phones until Feb. 15, 2003. After
that date, the new 269 area code becomes mandatory for all land
lines.

There is a longer grace period on pre-existing cell-phone
numbers. Mandatory use of 269 for cell-phone numbers issued before
July 13 will not occur until Feb. 15, 2004.

For all new land-line and cell-phone numbers issued after
July 13, the 269 area code is immediately mandatory. The old
area code will not work with any new numbers issued.

Some customers of voicemail services, such as Ameritech voicemail,
may discover that they can only access their voicemail accounts
using the old area code. According to Ameritech representatives,
the change in voicemail account numbers to reflect the new area
code will occur by Sept. 1.

David H. Smith, WMU's director of graphics and design, recommends
that University offices begin distributing materials with the
new area code immediately. Remaining printed items may be used
through February 2003, but any new or reprinted materials should
include the 269 area code.

University Web sites should be updated immediately to reflect
the new area code in all contact information.